Cubs Celebrate NLDS Clincher from Clubhouse to Wrigleyville

“It does feel like more than [a World Series win] tonight”, catcher David Ross said. Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber are among the team’s three youngest players, but they are also the biggest home run threats in the lineup.

For the Chicago Cubs and their ever-hopeful fans, this was a long time in the making. They partied in Pittsburgh after beating the Pirates in last week’s wild-card game.

In all, they hit 10 HR in the NLDS off Cardinals’ pitching.

The Cubs advance to the NLCS for the first time since 2003.

Game 1 of the NLCS will be Saturday in either Los Angeles or New York with Arrieta expected to start on four days rest.

Schwarber’s seventh-inning blast helped the Cubs secure a 6-4 victory over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field in Game 4 of the series between NL Central rivals.

“You can judge us however you want”, manager Mike Matheny said.

Rizzo’s solo drive to right off losing pitcher Kevin Siegrist in the sixth put Chicago back on top 5-4 after St Louis had scored two in the top half of the inning. An eagle-eyed Tribune Publishing employee, Tom Comings, spotted the ball, and the Chicago Cubs verified the ball’s authenticity through a watermark on the cover. Game 1 of the NLCS will be carried on TBS, but as of now the time has yet to be determined. “Up and down, we were all wonderful”. The Cubs hit nine home runs the two games at Wrigley and have a decided home-field advantage.

Matheny had no qualms about using him. He said he wanted to make a painting of it.

Oh, yeah. This is not even the first time they did that. The Cardinals asserted an early 2-0 lead thanks to a Stephen Piscotty home run in the first.

Naturally, he singled to center to score the Cubs’ first run.

One belonged to Schwarber, his second of the post-season. After he was pulled after three innings of work, the veteran-led bullpen got to work. Hammel allowed two runs on three hits, walked three and strike out two. “They have a bunch of guys this year that have definitely stepped up and made this a pretty fun team to watch, regardless of who you root for”.

The Cubs then returned it to its original location on top of the board and will leave it there until their postseason run has concluded. In the 6th inning the Cardinals actually tied the ballgame up 4-4 when Brandon Moss singled to right, but Tony Cruz was thrown out at home as the game remained tied.

St. Louis equalized in the sixth after Jason Heyward and Jhonny Peralta hit back-to-back singles.

The ball settled on top of the right-field video scoreboard, which was erected just before this season.

Baez followed with a three-run homer and the Cubs jumped in front 4-2.

NOTES: Cardinals C Yadier Molina was a late scratch Tuesday due to a sore thumb. The deciding game is Thursday night.